That's what one of the owners of West Hartford's Taqueria Tavern told me when I called to ask about a curious part of their decor.

But at least one reader is offended. And here's part of his email to me:

"I just came home from the new "Mexican" restaurant on Park Rd. in West Hartford called "Taqueria Tavern", and I am outraged.

In the middle of the restaurant is a wall constructed of rough hewn timbers with barbed wire strung along them. There are signs pointing one for USA and one way for Mexico. As I left, I realized that there was also a low wall outside of the restaurant divided it from Plan B restaurant. This wall has metal strips with wire all wrapped around them.

I am stunned by this display of ignorance. How can the owners not realize how cruel this is? Don't they know how many people have died along the border fences?

I urge you to stop by and see for yourself."

So, I did.

I swear, I was ready to give the restaurant a pass when a colleague and I ate there Monday afternoon.

The food was pretty good, and while the reader clearly found the fence offensive, I thought it looked innocuous enough.

But then I asked the waitress what the outdoor fence between Taqueria Tavern and another restaurant, Plan B, represented.

The liquor commission mandates a division between eateries, she said.

Oh, if she only stopped there.

It's supposed to be the border fence, she continued. Inside, they even have a sign, one side pointing to the US, the other to Mexico.

Ugh.

Later, co-owner Rick Pond said he meant no harm.

"We would never do anything to offend anyone,'' he said. The chicken wire was part of the decor of the previous restaurant at the site, he said. And, he cleared the fence with his Mexican staff.

They told him it was fine, he said.

And that US/Mexico sign inside, he said, was just a bit of fun.

I didn't sense any malice here. But I'm just not sure we're at the point where we can all have a big yuk over the contentious -- and occasionally, violent -- issue of U.S. Mexican immigration issues.

My vote -- take it down. They've clearly put some thought into their food. Now how about putting a little more thought into their decor?